Police Defend Use Of Force On ‘Occupy UC Davis’

November 18, 2011 10:53 PM

A police officer sprays sitting Occupy UC Davis protesters with pepper spray on Nov. 18, 2011. (CBS)

DAVIS (CBS13) – Law enforcement officials defended the tactics used Friday to dismantle an encampment set up by “Occupy Wall Street” sympathizers on the UC Davis quad, a raid that drew accusations of excessive force from students after sitting protesters were subjected to pepper spray at point-blank range.

UC Davis Police officers in riot gear warned “Occupy UC Davis” demonstrators to pack up their tents and leave the field located between the Memorial Union and Shields Library at about 3:00 p.m., and then moved in to take down the protesters’ tents a half hour later.

University officials had warned students several times since Thursday that camping would not be allowed on the quad.

A growing crowd filled the field as officers hauled away tents and a number of protesters linked arms and sat down on the path in the middle of the field, defying orders to leave. Shortly before 4:00 p.m., an officer used a can of pepper spray to coat the sitting demonstrators in the chemical dispersant before officers began taking students into custody one by one.

The watching crowd began shouting chants of “Shame on you” and “Let them go,” while dozens of students recorded the encounter on cell phone cameras.

“I don’t think that was warranted,” one protester told CBS13. “It was non-violent protests, we were sitting, linking arms.”

UC Davis Police Chief Annette Spicuzza said officers used force out of concern for their own safety after they were surrounded by students.

“If you look at the video you are going to see that there were 200 people in that quad,” said Chief Spicuzza. “Hindsight is 20-20 and based on the situation we were sitting in, ultimately that was the decision that was made.”

Authorities are still reviewing video of the incident, Spicuzza added.

Officers left the quad after making 10 arrests, nine of which were UC Davis students. Law enforcement retreated out of the field in a direction that was not obstructed by sitting protesters.

Protesters vowed to remain in the quad and reestablish their camp Friday evening, but as of 10:00 p.m. Friday, no demonstrators or tents were visible in the area.

>> Send photos and videos to CBS13.

Police Defend Use Of Force On Occupy UC Davis

http://politicalmosaic.com/?p=11941 UC Davis Police Pepper-Spray Seated Students In Occupy Dispute (VIDEO) | POLITICAL MOSAIC

[...] a report by the CBS Sacramento station Friday night, Spicuzza said the officers’ own safety was also a concern. “If you look [...]
sassafrass

1% your post is the most outrageously violent post I have ever read you need to get some anger counciling, to actually wish cops had used a bullet to the head of kids demonstrating which is their right, you on the other hand should be in a mentally disturbed facility. It is scary to think someone like you is running around lose.
Sparky

So doodle…You related to 1% poster above! Same lame attempt to excuse cops using pepper spray on non violent peaceful students. Oh thats right I forgot …they were afraid for their safety! Hers a thought. If the protest doesn’t present a public safety and is non disruptive just ignor it. Davis cops sould find better things to do with their time.
mike

Protesters got their civil rights, protesters got that horrible Vietnam war and the unfair unjust draft(that killed many young students) stopped. Thank God we have the right to protest, no one killed or raped anyone at UC Davis what a lame moronic comparison, sometimes laws need to be changed
Jonus

You are one sick excuse for a non human being. You your be commited immediatetly to the mental hospital. You are everything bad about a human being which probably makes you inhuman. What a piece of work.
AK

What an ugly scene. The Occupy people are whiny losers with nothing going for them in life, and cops are pigs. It’s a lose-lose article.

Sparky

Yeah, your right AK. No point in this story just students protesting college fees escalating out of reach for middle class families as they have been for several years. It’s a real comfort to know there are still people in tune with the world around them and the issues of the day!
DaMav

Amen AK!

Free Stuff? LOL

I agree with 1%. We, the taxpayers, are TIRED of OWS. Look at all the tax money being spent on police overtime. And what for? So some over-privileged kids can get their mugs on the news and cry how bad they are being mistreated by society, and how capitalism isn’t favoring them? And have you questioned that some of these protesters may have mental disturbances?

OWS is RAPING the taxpayers. Taxpayers need to take notice. I know some of you have to agree that this movement needs to be shut down. Free speech has its limits, but the taxpayers shouldn’t be burdened with flipping the bill to pay for the continuing RAPING that OWS is having on our communities. Destroying our parks, and now our college campuses. And you OWS protesters have no one but to blame but yourselves. Don’t go on and blaming the police or corporate America for your problems. You need to look in the mirror and look at yourself first before you blame anyone else for your selfish problems.

I say there should be a movement to OCCUPY OCCUPY WALL STREET, in which taxpayers go in and beat the hell out of these protesters in anger for wasting our community’s valuable resources and money. And I have to agree, these protesters need to be put into check.

NoLove4Swine

Hear that? That’s the sound made by Fascist Swine Elitists wanting THEIR park back. LOL! Aww, how they must they long to go back to the trough unopposed to rut around in the muck for bucks…
RobK1967

Hitler would be proud of you

Daniel

Chimed in Mr. Chamberlan.
RobK1967

Thank you for the compliment, at least I am not a thug or thug excuser
Daniel

5 million jews wouldn’t have viewed that as a compliment. I guess you agreed with Hitler then.
RobK1967

You would guess wrong, but being a thus excuser it seems you are used to being wrong. Don’t you have some puppies to go beat?

gna

The whole point to non-violent social disobedience is to get your attention, if making the system work harder which cost money, gets your attention then the protest is successful , providing of course your trying to understand the reasoning.

PG

Social DISOBEDIENCE…….that’s the key word here. Doesn’t matter if it’s Non-violent or not. It’s breaking the law and it has it’s consequences. Just because it grabs attention doesn’t mean it’s successful. The wrong kind of attention is NOT success. It just makes the occupy movement look even more ridiculous. Bottom line, if you don’t like the tuition hikes, find another school or quit for a year or two and go to work to fund your education. It may not be what you WANT but it is more likely to be WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD. No one in this country is ENTITLED to a “free” education beyond high school. One of the fastest ways to get a company or business or school to change it’s policies and practices is to STOP DOING BUSINESS WITH THEM. They can’t exist without customers. But trying to force others into bending to YOUR point of view through “civil” disobedience not only seldom works, but violates the rights of others and THEIR point of view. One person’s rights do not supersede another person’s rights .
RobK1967

I do pity you, it must suck to live your pathetic life that you like seeing students attacked by thugs
Will

Well said!!!! Believe me, WE are in the majority! They are the ones that are pathetic! They are the 1%

blake

Please learn the facts before you comment. This has NOTHING to do with OWS. This protest was against tuition hikes and a protest against the police brutality at UC Berkeley.

It’s people like you that are really dumbing our nation down. This cop probably knew as much about being a cop as you do about American rights and this protest.

http://fr33domhall.wordpress.com/2011/11/19/uc-davis-police-pepper-spray-seated-students-in-occupy-dispute/ UC Davis Police Pepper-Spray Seated Students In Occupy Dispute « Freedom Hall

[...] a report by the CBS Sacramento station Friday night, Spicuzza said the officers’ own safety was also a concern. “If you look [...]
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/uc-davis-police-pepper-spray-students-peacefully-sitting/ UC Davis Police Pepper Spray Students Peacefully Sitting

[...] local CBS affiliate reports: Police Defend Use Of Force On ‘Occupy UC Davis’ “If you look at the video you are going to see that there were 200 people in that [...]
Cindy

Officers don’t need to defend thier actions. The losers do. Get out and get a life. Do you even remember why you are protesting? Most people think you are idiots.

NoLove4Swine

Funny thing is Cindy, most people think you’re an idiot for being a conformist robot too, so we’ll call it even. Your the type like these other lovers of swine that would bust out with your little dainty lady jogger mace spray because you feel threatened by someone who disagrees with you. Probably. Sow.

DaMav

I fully support the actions of the police. Sick of this BS from these malcontents who think they can do whatever they want. I’m part of the 99% and I don’t need some bums or anarchists or Marxists claiming to speak for me. HAD ENUFF? Let the backlash begin!

PigglyWiggly

It’s cute that you have no idea what you are talking about. You hungry? Tired? Want your binky?

Look at those ruffians sitting! I mean, I never sit. I stand all day. So I now cops would never do this to me.

http://www.e-gnomi.com/home/archives/6457 Occupy everywhere smells like an evolving Uprising – e-gnomi.com – η γνώμη σου μετράει

[...] a report by the CBS Sacramento station Friday night, Spicuzza said the officers’ own safety was also a concern. «If you look at the [...]
Free Stuff? LOL

like they say…..

“don’t hate the players, hate the game!!!”

OWS is toast!! the taxpayers have had ENOUGH of their whiny, crybaby, socialist tactics and we REAL AMERICANS DEMAND AN END TO THEIR LIBERAL CHARADES. fine them all!! make them pay for their own mistakes, and for the overtime and any other restitution costs.

it’s time to OCCUPY OWS!! sue the hell out of this organization on behalf of the taxpayers, since this corrupt organization has RAPED the taxpayers and violated the principles of law and order.
Fred Leland

Those English majors are wirey. Chief Spicuzza you need to be bounced out of office. This was done to intimidate and nothing more and wasn’t warranted no matter how you try to spin it. And if your armed force can’t physically remove demonstrators without pepper spray then someone needs to review the physical requirements for the force.
Appalled

Why are some of you so angry at these people? What are they doing to you? Do you go to UC Davis? Were they on your lawn? The amount of harm you want to cause other human beings for no other reason than they are voicing their opinion in a peaceful manner is appalling.

So next time your kid doesn’t listen to his/her teacher in class can they go ahead and pepper spray them? Maybe smack them around? You’re all for that right?

You think you are Americans? What a joke the lot of you are. I hope the day comes where you have a run in with a Pig and try to plead your case and he tazes you for no reason.

Don’t bother with the stupid “I don’t do anything to warrant that happening to me bull.” Because if you keep letting this continue they won’t need a reason to do it. You simply disagreeing will be enough. This has nothing to do with either side of the protest. This has to do with being a human being.

NoLove4Swine

@Appalled: Agreed. The ‘some’ that you speak of, well, it’s because most of them haven’t got a frickin’ clue and they can’t be bothered to think for themselves. That is the reason behind it. They actually believe and foolishly expect to be able to take their freedom for granted, until the end of time. The writing isn’t on the wall for them, but it soon will be.

Phil

The only thing the Republicans apparently got correct is that we should get rid of the excessive number of cops we have in this country. If they act like that send em packing
lduket

If they decide to participate in acts of civil disobedience, they must be prepared for the consequences.
Maggie Orion

Whether you agree with the Occupiers or not, I think it’s very important to ask yourself, “Do I support police brutality in response to civil disobedience?”. If your answer is, no, you join the ranks of those who wrote our constitution and identify with the core beliefs of American democracy. If you answer “yes” step right over to the group of Americans intent on sacrificing civilian rights and the First Amendment in favor of a militarized police state. No matter what the issue, Tea Party or Green party or the politically Independent group of Occupiers, this type of police response is unwarranted and disturbing.

PG

Pepper spray is NOT police brutality. Just because someone may not LIKE pepper spray because it burns and stings and smarts and makes you cry DOESN’T MAKE IT BRUTAL. I can’t believe all the fools here who think that you can strip law enforcement of all their tools to enforce the law and think that you are going to have crime free communities. Take a look around….as law enforcement have backed off over the years because of “public outcry” when they use force to remove people that won’t be removed any other way……crime has increased on all levels from petty theft to violent crime. No different that raising children. If you don’t discipline when they flop their big hairy toe over the line they will keep pushing the line back. Eventually you have a child that is out of control and has contempt for every form of authority from parents, school, employer and government. Now people cry that law enforcement isn’t doing enough to “protect the citizens from all the crime” and when they take a zero tolerance attitude, you all scream police brutality. CAN’T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS FOLKS.

RobK1967

At least you are consistent in your support for police brutality, and once again I must pity you for your sorry lot in life

Jeff

Notice that cops never feared for their lives when the Tea Party rallied while armed to the teeth with automatic weapons, stating that they were not afraid to use them.
NoLove4Swine

@1%: HEY SCHWEINHUND, don’t look now, but, THE COPS JUST DID THAT TO YOUR WIFE AND CHILDREN ON THE FRONT LAWN OF YOUR HOME, er um, “THE BANKS HOME THAT YOU -OCCUPY-.” SO, YOU DON’T THINK IT COULD EVER HAPPEN BECAUSE OF WHO AND WHAT YOU ARE? THINK AGAIN DIPWAD!
http://cheaptomake.com/Impact/watch-uc-davis-police-pepper-spray-students/ WATCH: UC Davis Police Pepper-Spray Students | Impact

[...] a report by the CBS Sacramento station Friday night, Spicuzza said the officers’ own safety was also a concern. “If you look [...]
http://thedailywh.at/2011/11/19/occupy-movement-news-update-of-the-day-16/ Occupy Movement News Update of the Day – The Daily What

[...] Meanwhile, the police offers who initially doused the protesters with pepper spray has been identified as UC Davis Police Lt. John Pike. UC Davis Police Chief Annette Spicuzza defended the use of pepper spray, saying officers were concerned for their own safety. [...]
http://www.realliberalchristianchurch.org/2011/11/19/ows-fascist-tools-police-pepper-spray-peaceful-uc-davis-students-where-are-the-federal-authorities-upholding-the-first-amendment.html #ows Fascist tools: "Police Pepper Spray Peaceful UC Davis Students." Where are the federal authorities upholding the first amendment? | RealLiberalChristianChurch.org

[...] "Police Defend Use Of Force On 'Occupy UC Davis'" [...]
willy wonka

Are the police so wimpy these days that they can’t just man handle these people and pick up and carry them away? Police from long ago didn’t have tasers or pepper spray and never had these issues. IMHO this is just abuse of power on the part of the UCD Police. I’m suprised they didn’t shoot anyone!
WWJD

WWJD? He’d OWS!!!